Bali Police Chief Gives Ultimatum to Sub-Commanders

Senior Bali Police Officers in Kuta and Denpasar Given One Week to Catch Group of Criminal Fraudsters or Face Dismissal.

(9/18/2010) Bali's chief of police, General Hadiatmoko has threatened to remove two leading precinct commanders – Police Commissioner Suryanbodo Asmoro of the Denpasar Metropolitan police command and Adjutant Police Commissioner Gede Ganefo of the Kuta precinct – if they are unable to solve the case of extortion committed recently against a Swiss tourist.

Beritabali.com reports the warning was issued following a meeting between the chief of security of the Hotel Kartika Plaza, I Nenga Dana, with General Hadiatmoko on Wednesday, September 15, 2010. Dana told the chief of police how a Swiss guest was extorted by a group of five people including 3 women. The theft occurred after the Swiss man left the hotel and was invited by the five to chat on the pretense that they have a friend living in Switzerland. After drinking at a local establishment with the five, the Swiss man, possibly under the influence of a drug added to his drink, agreed to gamble with the group. Losing heavily, they brought him to a nearby ATM in order that he could pay his Rp. 5 million (US$555) gambling debt.

Insisting that they were owed more, the group brought the man to a local phone shop where they forced him to buy 10 Blackberry hand phones in order to settle his losses.

Seemingly intent on not having their images captured by the hotel's CCTV system, they delivered the Swiss man to the front of the hotel where they bid him leave.

Angered at the possible damage to Bali's reputation as a tourism destination, General Hadiatmoko followed up his meeting with Dana by immediately ordering Asmoro and Ganefo to solve the case.

To underline his seriousness in the matter, General Hadiatmoko told the two commanders that they would be removed from their posts if they failed to solve the case within one week's time.